Modi blitzkrieg: Move over Tupac, not just holograms, Namo has his own channel too

Narendra Modi's election channel Namo Gujarat is creating waves in the state by innovatively selling the Gujarat CM . His supporters say the new channel counters the anti-Modi blitzkrieg by a vast section of media which doesn't depict the 'true Modi'.

The 24 hour news channel, specially floated for taking Modi to the voters on the eve of the elections, runs from a compact but impressive Ahmedabad office and is indeed creating waves. The channel's website has logged one lakh viewers already. Plus the channel, run by Asianet, has a tie-up with local cable TV operators which have a total reach of around two crore viewers.

The channel's appeal is primarily based on the fact that most of the local newspapers have been running a campaign against Modi and the innovative way the 30-member team of the channel is trying to package Modi is being lapped up by Modi supporters says Bhaskar Tanna, a Modi supporter and a lawyer who had defended Modi against the allegations of corruption and misadministration,

Narendra Modi's election channel Namo Gujarat is creating waves in the state."There is a thirst amongst the people at large to know Modi's side of the story which is seldom projected in the media. This is the secret of the channel's success"

Interspread with bulletins about Modi, it has some very ingeniously named and crafted programmes.

For example Vaat Vikas Ni (Talk about Development), a program aimed at selling his development vision showed how Modi organised a dinner of street-side food vendors at his residence and showed them a film capturing the unhygienic way they made and sold their food items and then made them undergo training to rectify their food making style. Wearing plastic hand gloves while handling food was one of the things taught to them and now several Ahmedabad food joints vendors can seen following these lessons in hygiene.

Another programme which runs round the clock is Man of the Match, which is a gist of Modi's speeches on how society and the country at large can overcome many pressing problems if there is will and the vision to do so in the political leadership.

Yet another programme is 'Hot Seat' where ministers are asked about the allegations levelled against them by the Opposition.

"Matdaro Ni Vachhe" (Amongst the voters) is another programme in which opinions of voters are sought on Modi's performance and various schemes.

Although a negative opinion is seldom shown, the programme has given Modi a good grasp of his his public standing. The reason; negative opinion has seldom crossed 15 per cent of those interviewed.

Then there is Ru Ba ru, a studio discussion wherein political and social analysts and media persons, besides BJP leaders, are called for discussions on the Modi government's schemes and its impact amongst the voters to basically asses where does Modi stand in the eyes of the people.

Modi's election channel Namo GujaratSome of these shows have given more than expected results. For example, when BJP leader Ranchod Rabari was asked about the progress that his Rabari community has made since Modi came to power, he drew a picture as to how other backward communities, like the OBC Kshatriyas, too had progressed under Modi's rule.

Since it is not a satellite channel, a sum of just Rs 1 crore has reportedly been spent on the channel so far.

Amongst the 30-odd staff, 10 are reporters-cum-anchors and many of these are die-hard Modi supporters working voluntarily. Amongst these is a development documentary maker of Delhi who is directing the show.

And some of its young anchors like Kavita Parmar, 24, and Yash Modi, 20, have become known faces for their style. After the Gujarat polls Modi might turn it into Namo Bharat keeping his 2014 goal in mind.